Did anyone make a change of career relatively late on?

[mu0n]

And have success with it?

I'm debating it. I'm not a home owner or have any dependants so I guess I'm all good on that front, but dropping to circa 20k for 2 years will be a bit of a shock.

Any regrets?

[anonymous-user]

If you don't have many commitments then i'd say go for it, if you don't then you may regret not trying.

[enemi]

What are you changing from and to?

[LooneyTunes]

What do you class as "late on"?

Also, are you planning on doing it by simply trying to get a junior role in new sector, or by formal training etc?

[Jasandjules]

When I was mid twenties I left my bank to go to Uni to change to law. Not having my income for a few years was not nice, no more holidays in the Maldives or Caribbean but we had some savings to live off.

You only live once.

[BE57 TOY]

enemi said:

What are you changing from and to?

^^^

Also how old are you?

[mu0n]

I work as sales/trader for an import company. The money is not bad but I've been doing this too long now and I'm fed up with it.

Looking to go into being a Linesman/Jointer for a power company and hopefully progress into a managerial role when I'm able to.

So a real big change. Currently working for a very small private company where I don't seem to learn anything to a big private firm who offer all sorts of training and support.

I'm 28.

[Ash 996 GT2]

I got into IT at 28, never having touched a PC in my life.

[mu0n]

Ash 996 GT2 said:

I got into IT at 28, never having touched a PC in my life.

Hi Ash, what did you do within IT? I have an AVCE in ICT.

[rog007]

If you're looking to change for all the right reasons and have done an objective analysis of pros & cons and a move comes out on top, then do it. Don't however do it on a whim or because you're feeling a bit down or without having an objective look at the alternatives. Good luck!

[limpsfield]

28 is nothing. Done it twice, most recently at 36, all worked out okay.


It's what you make of it, rather than a formula that you should/shouldn't do x at y age,

Life is too short to be unhappy at work.

[MitchT]

Go for it OP! I wish I was 28!! I'm nearly 39 and seriously considering starting again. Crap wage (a whisker more than the £20k that you're worried about dropping to) and not loving my job enough to compensate me adequately for the st income being the two main motivating factors.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Yep, once at 36, and doing another one now at 40.

Was in the Printing industry originally, and had worked my way up to General Manager positions, until things got ugly with the industry, starting around 2006.

Suffered a few redundancies in print, so decided to set up a business in my local high street, doing something completely different that I knew nothing about...

Was a success and gave me a living, but boy did I get fecked about by staff, suppliers, utility suppliers and most of all the local bloody council. The customers were the easiest part of it!

Having had enough (I will never start a business again, that's for sure) I was lucky to be able to sell it for a decent profit about 18 months ago.



Last September then, I started doing an 'Access to Medicine' course at my local 6th form college - it's like A levels for adults. I'm nearly done now, just got exams next month.

I received 3 offers from different Universities, which I'm pleased about, because the attrition rate for the course I wanted to do is around 3 to 4 hundred applications for about 25 places


So in September, I start my degree which, all going well, will see me as a qualified Paramedic in 2015!

[Patch1875]

Started my own business at 35 took a big hit financially initially,it was tough as we had just had a child. Good times now could never go back to work for someone else.

[Monkeylegend]

Left my career in the Food Industry after 30 years when I was 46 and set up my own business. Best thing I ever did, so I would say do it if you have an idea of what you would like to do, and a little bit of money behind you to see you through 12 months or so.

I am now 60, still paying the bills and could not go back to working for anybody else now.

[dave_s13]

I jacked in work as a cad draughtsman age 26 and did a degree in podiatry and now work for the nhs.

After 8 years in the job I wish I'd done something else! It was bloody hard work and the money is average, I do enjoy the job though. I sometimes think about doing it again but going for a medical degree but 2 young kids with another on the way means I'm pretty much screwed now! :-)

Good luck.

Ps..there's always someone got it worse than you.

[vinnie83]

I'm 30 and have a small mortgage/insurance broker firm. I've been in the financial industry since I was 19.

I start college in 4 months to do an access to medicine course for a year, so I can go to uni to study dentistry.

I will be studying for 6 years, and will have to do a year (possibly 2 by the time I graduate) as a trainee on about £30k.

I am absolutely fed up of the financial industry - the tighter regulations being applied in response to big banks ripping people off that they will chose to ignore, whilst making our lives more difficult - the dishonest people who work in finance, the type of people who would sell their own mothers for a commission - the uncertainty of the industry going forward.

In short, I hated having to rely on such a largely unprofessional industry for my living. I don't regret committing to the change one bit - I am actually really looking forward to it!

I will be going from a pretty decent income to a hell of a lot less (depending on how much income my staff can generate) for 6 years - it is scary, but imagine having to do the job you're already bored/fed up of for the rest of your life!

You have no commitments - if you don't do it, you'll kick yourself once you're tied down and really don't have the option anymore.

DO IT!

[vinnie83]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

Last September then, I started doing an 'Access to Medicine' course at my local 6th form college - it's like A levels for adults. I'm nearly done now, just got exams next month.

Hi Ray, which college did you do the course at?

I start access to medicine at City and Islington in September. How did you find it at this age? Did you have any science knowledge already?

I have no science knowledge since GCSE's and am slightly concerned about the workload whilst running my business alongside.

Congratulations by the way, a brave move and good luck with your studies.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

vinnie83 said:

I start college in 4 months to do an access to medicine course for a year, so I can go to uni to study dentistry.

I'm just about to finish one of those

It was great, I have really enjoyed it - especially the biology content. The course is pretty complex, if you do full-time with 4 modules. And if you need decent grades like I did for Uni entry (45 out of the 60 credits at distinction ) be prepared to work for it! But the staff and teachers have all been complete stars, and the level of help and support has been nothing short of amazing. Hence, so far, I've managed to get distinctions in every single piece of work. However - next month is exam time - eek!!!

Starting my FdSc Paramedic Science Uni degree in September...

[Mobile Chicane]

Would anyone go into retail car sales (as an exec) as a female at the age of 45?

I think I'd be good at it, in the sense that the punters wouldn't expect to be 'sold to', but oh yes, they would be